Method and device for connecting structural parts

ABSTRACT

This invention relates a method and device for joining structural members together, in a substantially transverse or in-line orientation, without the use of tools. The preferred embodiment can be used to join the structural members of a bicycle frame together, forming one or more sub-assemblies that can be easily disassembled or knocked down by hand for fast and easy shipping or storage. The current state of the art with knockdown bicycle frames requires detailed knowledge of bicycle assembly and components as well as a substantial amount of time to do so. My invention does not require the use of specific tools and allows the novice to knockdown and re-assemble a bicycle frame in a few minutes, providing a quick, simple, and affordable way to temporarily store, ship, or travel with a bicycle. In addition to joining the structural members of a bicycle frame, the preferred embodiment can be used for various applications requiring a simple and quick way to join in-line or transverse structural members together without the use of tools.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No.US60/852,133 filed on Oct. 16, 2006, which is incorporated herein in itsentirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Structural members are typically joined together in a permanently fixedway by the use of welding, bonding, or mechanical fasteners, all whichrequire specific tools for assembly and dis-assembly. In theconstruction of an ordinary bicycle frame, structural members are weldedor permanently bonded together at specific angles to form a fixedtriangular frame. FIG. 8 shows a conventional bicycle. The major membersof a bicycle frame are the top tube 1, down tube 2, seat tube 3, rearstays 25, chain stays 26, bottom bracket 28, and head tube 4. The fixedjoint bicycle frame is assembled together with wheels, handlebar,pedals, gears, and other components to create a ride-able bicycle. Thehead tube assembly is made up of the fork 9, which passes through headtube 4, is attached to stem 11 and is clamped to handlebars 10. The headtube assembly can be complicated to assemble or disassemble and requiresadequate knowledge of the bicycle, skill, and specific tools.

With the advent of air travel, more and more cyclists are traveling withtheir bicycles on airplanes to various destinations. Disassembling abicycle for air travel or shipment can be costly, complicated, requirethe knowledge, skills, and tools of bicycle assembly, and demand a lotof time. The large size of a fixed joint bicycle frame design can makeit difficult to disassemble and require expensive over-sized packagingfor shipping, traveling by airplane, or temporary storage. A bicycleframe making use of a unique structural joint design that allows forfast, compact, and easy dis-assembly, without the use of tools, is verymuch needed. It would be ideal for this joint design to enable the headtube assembly to remain intact in order to reduce dis-assembly/assemblytime and complexity.

The object of this invention is to provide a quick release joint designthat can be applied to the structural members of a bicycle frame. Thisconnection method will enable a regular bicycle to be knocked down ordismantled into several smaller assemblies in only several minutes,requiring no tools or knowledge of bicycle assembly, thus allowing it tobe packed into a case that is small enough for cheap and easy shipping,air travel, or storage.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates a method and device for connecting structuralmembers together without the use of tools. This method and device can beused to join the tubular members of a bicycle frame together, formingone or more sub-assemblies, which can be easily disassembled by hand forfast and easy shipping or storage. In addition to joining the structuralmembers of a bicycle frame, this method and device can be used forvarious applications requiring a simple and quick way to join in-line ortransverse structural members together without the use of tools. Thecurrent state of the art with bicycle frames requires complexdis-assembly procedures and prior knowledge of bicycle assembly in orderto take apart and pack a bicycle into a shippable or airline sizedsuitcase. My invention allows for a bicycle frame design that can bedisassembled and assembled in minutes, with no tools or prior knowledgeof bicycle assembly. This invention allows the large size of a bicycleframe to be knocked down into smaller sub-assemblies enabling thecompact, efficient, and affordable transport of a standard bicycle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the preferred embodiment in a closed double jointconfiguration

FIG. 2 shows the preferred embodiment in an open double jointconfiguration

FIG. 3 shows the preferred embodiment opening in an in-line orientation

FIG. 4 shows the preferred embodiment fully opened in an in-lineorientation

FIG. 5 shows the preferred embodiment opening in a transverseorientation

FIG. 6 shows the preferred embodiment fully opened in a transverseorientation

FIG. 7 a shows a cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment

FIG. 7 b shows a detail and cross-sectional view of rotatable ringmember of preferred embodiment

FIG. 8 shows a standard bicycle

FIG. 9 shows an assembled bicycle frame making use of the preferredembodiment

FIG. 10 shows the main structural assemblies of a disassembled bicycleframe and the parts of the preferred embodiment

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 depicts the preferred embodiment being applied to both an in-linejoint and a transverse joint of structural members 12,13, and 14. Bothjoints shown are in a closed position. The left side of the figure showsthe closed in-line joint while the right side of the figure illustratesthe closed transverse joint. For the in-line joint, structural member 12is joined to structural member 13. For the transverse joint, structuralmember 13 is joined to structural member 14.

FIG. 2 represents the same joints as FIG. 1, but in a fully openedposition where we can see the individual components of the preferredembodiment. Member 12 has a radial ring 6 with interior pocket 6 a,fixed on the outside surface of one end. On the other end of member 12are two tapered wedge protrusions 15 extending radially outwards fromthe member. Each protrusion is tapered so that one side 15 a is narrowwhile other side 15 b is wider, thus forming a taper. This specificexample makes use of two tapered wedge protrusions. However, thepreferred embodiment will work with one, two, or multiple tapered wedgeprotrusions. Structural member 12 is designed in slide axially intostructural member 13. At the left end of member 13 is a slot 18 toaccommodate tapered wedge 15. Member 13 has an inward tapered end 17,which fits into radial ring 6 and radially inward pocket 6 a on member12. Sliding axially on member 13 is rotatable ring 8. Also fixed onmember 13 is radially outward protrusion 16. Protrusion 16 preventsprevents ring 8 from sliding towards the slotted end of structuralmember 13. Similar to the in-line joint pictured on the left side ofFIG. 2, the transverse joint uses many of the same components. Member 19is fixed to member 13 in a substantially transverse orientation. The topend of member 19 has radially outward protrusion 16 and the inward taper17 at the bottom end. The inside surface of member 19 is shaped so thatit fits perfectly over the outside surface structural member 14. Member14 has radial ring 6 with interior pocket 6 a, fixed to the outsidesurface of one end. The other end of member 14 has tapered wedgeprotrusions 15.

FIG. 3 shows the in-line joint on the left side partially open. Ring 8has been rotated in direction 20 to release itself from tapered wedge 15and moved axially along member 13 to the right. In this particularexample, ring 8 is rotated counter-clockwise to release itself fromtapered wedge 15. However, tapered wedge 15 can be configured so thatring 8 must be rotated either clockwise or counterclockwise to releaseitself. Tapered wedge 15 is located at the far right of slot 18. Inwardtaper 17 (not shown) is tucked inside the pocket of radial ring 6.

FIG. 4 shows the in-line joint fully open. Inward taper 17 has releaseditself from the inside pocket of radial ring 6. Tapered wedge 15 hasmoved axially along slot 18 to the left until member 12 has fullyseparated itself from member 13.

FIG. 5 shows the transverse joint of the preferred embodiment partiallyopen. On the right side of the figure, ring 8 has been rotated indirection 20 to release itself from tapered wedge 15 and moved axiallyup to the top of member 14. Member 19 is fixed to structural member 13and mated around member 14. Inward taper 17 (not shown) of member 19 istucked into the interior pocket 6 a of radial ring 6.

FIG. 6 shows the transverse joint fully open. Member 19 has parteditself from structural member 14 by removing inward taper 17 frominterior pocket 6 a of radial ring 6.

FIG. 7 a shows a cross-section view of the fully closed transversejoint. Ring 8 is rotated in direction 24 until tapered wedge 15 iscompletely locked between interior groove 22 of FIG. 7 b. Inward taper17 is completely tucked into the inside pocket 6 a of radial ring 6.Member 19 is fully mated around the outside surface of structural member14.

FIG. 7 b shows a cross-section view of ring 8. The outside surface 21 ofring 8 has a textured pattern to increase grip and friction. Theinterior tapered groove 22 of ring 8 is made of locking surfaces 22 aand 22 b. Gap 23 allows tapered wedge 15 to slide up into the interiortapered groove 22. As tapered wedge 15 slides through gap 23 and intointerior groove 22, locking surface 27 of ring 8 makes contact with thetop surface of protrusion 16. Protrusion 16 prevents ring 8 from movingdownwards toward radial ring 6. At gap 23, the distance between surface22 a and 22 b is at its widest distance. Starting at gap 23, surface 22b tapers upwards towards surface 22 a along its radial path. As ring 8is rotated in direction 24, tapered wedge 15 moves radially alongtapered groove 22 and locking surface 22 b pushes tapered wedge 15 upagainst locking surface 22 a while locking surface 27 pushes downagainst protrusion 16. Since tapered wedge 15 is connected to bothmember 14 and radial ring 6, the upward movement of tapered wedge 15towards locking surface 22 a causes both member 14 and radial ring 6 toalso move upwards. This upward movement additionally forces inward taper17 into interior pocket 6 a, thus forming an additional lock betweenmembers 19 and 14. Furthermore, tapered wedge 15 pushes up on lockingsurface 22 a while locking surface 27 pushes down on protrusion 16, thuslocking ring 8, member 14, and member 19 together.

FIG. 8 illustrates a typical bicycle. The major structural members of abicycle are top tube 1, down tube 2, seat tube 3, head tube 4, rearstays 25, and chain stays 26. Head tube 4 forms the major component ofthe head tube assembly. The head tube assembly is made up of head tube4, fork 9, stem 11, handlebar 10, and front wheel 5. The rear stays 25and chain stays 26 meet together to hold the rear wheel 7. The seat tube3 and chain stays 26 meet together at the bottom bracket 28. Additionalcomponents are installed onto the bicycle to make it a ride-ablevehicle.

FIG. 9 shows a standard bicycle frame making use of the preferredembodiment at four substantially transverse joint locations in theclosed position. The preferred embodiment allows the temporaryconnection of top tube 1 to seat tube 3, top tube 1 to head tube 4, downtube 2 to head tube 4, and down tube 2 to seat tube 3. For addedreinforcement and strength, the joint between down tube 2 and seat tube3 overlaps bottom bracket 28. These joints allow the bicycle frame to beknocked down into smaller assemblies.

FIG. 10 shows the sub-assemblies of a bicycle frame making use of thepreferred embodiment at three distinct joint locations. The firstassembly is made up of main structural member, head tube 4. Attached tohead tube 4 are tapered wedge 15 and radial ring 6. The second assemblyis made up of main structural members top tube 1 and down tube 2. Toptube 1 is attached to member 19 at the right side. Down tube 2 is alsoattached to member 19 at the right side. Formed on member 19 areprotrusion 16 and inward taper 17. The inside surface of member 19 isdesigned to fit perfectly over the outside surface of head tube 4. Asdescribed in FIGS. 5 and 6, ring 8 is used to join members 19 and 14together. Similarly in FIG. 10, ring 8 is used to join the first andsecond bicycle frame assemblies together by joining member 19 to headtube 4.

The third bicycle frame assembly is made up of main structural membersseat tube 3, rear stays 25, chain stays 26, and bottom bracket 28. Thethird assembly joins to the second assembly at two joints. Each of thesetwo joints makes use of the preferred embodiment in a substantiallytransverse orientation. The first joint connects top tube 1 to seat tube3. Located at the top of seat tube 3 is tapered wedge 15 and radial ring6. On the left side of top tube 1 is member 19 with inward taper 17 andprotrusion 16. Ring 8 is axially located on seat tube 3 and connects toptube 1 to seat tube 3. The second joint connects down tube 2 to seattube 3. To increase the overall strength of the bicycle frame, thesecond joint overlaps bottom bracket 28. Located at the bottom of seattube 3 is tapered wedge 15. Below seat tube 3, an alternate version ofring 6 is attached to the bottom side of bottom bracket 28 creatinginside pocket 6 a. Attached to the bottom of down tube 2 is member 19.Member 19 is shaped to perfectly fit around the junction of bottombracket 28 and seat tube 3. At the top of member 19 is protrusion 16 andat the bottom is inward taper 17. Inward taper 17 fits into pocket 6 aon bottom bracket 28. Ring 8 is axially located on seat tube 3 andconnects down tube 2 to both seat tube 3 and bottom bracket 28.

Making use of the preferred embodiment at these three distinct joints ofthe bicycle frame allows the bicycle frame to be knocked down into avery compact size enabling easy shipping, travel, and storage.Additionally, since head tube 4 has no major structural members fixed toit, the entire head tube assembly can be disconnected from the bicycleframe without the need to remove or adjust handlebars 10, stem 11, andfork 9 of FIG. 8. Keeping the head tube assembly together further addsto the simplicity and speed of dis-assembly and assembly. FIG. 10illustrates one method of applying the preferred embodiment to threestructural joints of a standard bicycle frame.

However, the preferred embodiment can be applied to a standard bicycleframe design in a multitude of different configurations, making use ofboth in-line and transverse joint orientations, of which are notspecifically described in the scope of this application.

1. A quick-release compression and rotating wedge-lock coupling devicecomprising: a first structural member having a substantially annularring with a radially inward tapered portion concentrically fixed to theoutside surface of one end of the member and a radially outward taperedwedge protrusion formed on the outside of the other end of said member,a second structural member having one end with a radially outwardsflared portion, an inside surface mated to the outside surface of firststructural member, and other end of second member having an outsidetaper to fit into radially inward tapered portion of annular ring offirst structural member, and a rotatable substantially annular ring withinterior helical tapered groove and locking surface axially located onfirst structural member.
 2. A bicycle frame assembly utilizing at leastone coupling device of claim 1 to connect various structural members ofthe frame in a substantially transverse joint orientation to form one ormore bicycle frame sub-assemblies.
 3. A bicycle frame assembly utilizingat least one coupling device of claim 1 to connect various structuralmembers of the frame in a substantially in-line joint orientation toform one or more bicycle frame sub-assemblies.
 4. A bicycle framecomprising: A first structural member having a substantially annularring with a radially inward tapered portion concentrically fixed to theoutside surface of one end of the structural member and a radiallyoutward tapered wedge protrusion formed on the outside of the other endof said structural member, a second structural member having one endwith a radially outwards flared portion, an inside surface mated to theoutside surface of first structural member, and other end of secondstructural member having an outside taper to fit into radially inwardtapered portion of annular ring of first structural member, and arotatable substantially annular ring with interior helical taperedgroove and locking surface axially located on first structural memberwhich by turning said ring, the tapered groove engages outward taperedwedge protrusion of first structural member and locks against saidlocking surface thus coupling first and second structural memberstogether.
 5. A bicycle frame of claim 4 having a rotatable substantiallyannular ring member which requires no tools to rotate, lock, unlock,couple, and uncouple first and second structural members of said frame.6. A bicycle frame of claim 4 having a rotatable substantially annularring member with a knurled or textured outer surface to increase tactilegrip.
 7. A bicycle frame of claim 4 where first structural member is thehead tube and the second structural member is fixed to the end of thetop tube in a substantially transverse orientation.
 8. A bicycle frameof claim 4 where first structural member is the seat tube and the secondstructural member is fixed to the end of the top tube in a substantiallytransverse orientation.
 9. A bicycle frame of claim 4 where the firststructural member is the head tube and the second structural member isfixed to the end of the down tube in a substantially transverseorientation.
 10. A bicycle frame of claim 4 where the first structuralmember is the head tube and the second structural member is fixed to theend of both the top tube and the down tube in a substantially transverseorientation.
 11. A bicycle frame of claim 4 where the first structuralmember is the seat tube and the second structural member is fixed to theend of the down tube in a substantially transverse orientation.
 12. Abicycle frame of claim 4 where first structural member is the seat tubeand the second structural member is fixed to the end of the rear stay ina substantially transverse orientation.
 13. A bicycle frame of claim 4where first structural member is the seat tube and the second structuralmember is fixed to the end of the chain stay in a substantiallytransverse orientation.
 14. A bicycle frame comprising: a firststructural member having a substantially annular ring with a radiallyinward tapered pocket portion concentrically fixed to the outsidesurface of one end of the said structural member and a radially outwardtapered wedge protrusion formed on the outside of the other end of saidstructural member, a second structural member having one end with aradially outwards flared portion, an inside surface mated to the outsidesurface of first structural member, an axially positioned slot to allowthe tapered wedge protrusion of first structural member to slide inbetween and along axial length of second structural member to the end ofsaid slot, and other end of second structural member having an outsidetaper sized to fit into radially inward tapered portion of annular ringof first structural member, and a rotatable substantially annular ringmember, with interior helical tapered groove and interior lockingsurface, axially located above the radially outwards flared portion ofsecond structural member, with an inner ring diameter less than theouter diameter of said flared portion, thereby preventing the ring frommoving axially towards other tapered end of second structural member. Bypositioning said ring over outward tapered wedge protrusion of firststructural member and rotating, the interior tapered groove engages theoutward tapered wedge protrusion of first structural member and pullsfirst structural member axially into second structural member until, thetapered wedge protrusion is forced and locked against interior taperedgroove and locking surface of rotatable ring member, thus forming theprimary coupling of first and second structural members. Furthermore,the outside tapered portion of second structural member is axiallypushed into the inward tapered pocket portion of the first structuralmember, locking together to create the secondary coupling of the firstand second structural members.
 15. A bicycle frame of claim 14 having arotatable substantially annular ring member which requires no tools torotate, lock, unlock, couple, and uncouple first and second structuralmembers of said frame.
 16. A bicycle frame of claim 14 having arotatable substantially annular ring member with a knurled or texturedouter surface to increase tactile grip.
 17. A bicycle frame of claim 14where first and second structural members are substantially in-linesections of the head tube.
 18. A bicycle frame of claim 14 where firstand second structural members are substantially in-line sections of thetop tube.
 19. A bicycle frame of claim 14 where first and secondstructural members are substantially in-line sections of the down tube.20. A bicycle frame of claim 14 where first and second structuralmembers are substantially in-line sections of the seat tube.
 21. Abicycle frame of claim 14 where first and second structural members aresubstantially in-line sections of the rear stay.
 22. A bicycle frame ofclaim 14 where first and second structural members are substantiallyin-line sections of the chain stay.
 23. A bicycle frame connectedly madeup of one or more structural members and assemblies, where one member isa head tube with no other structural members or assemblies permanentlyfixed to it.